City Passes Smoke Ban (Scranton, PA)

The Scranton Times-Tribune ^ | 12-08-06 | Stacy Brown

[seedman81]

Agreed.

[Gabz]

Let's get started!!!!!!!

[bert]

Fortunately, the Scranton Office of Dunder-Mifflen was recently saved. One wonders if there was a meting called or will be called to discuss the effect of the ban on the Christmas party.

[demsux]

Like I said, our town voted down the smoking ban.

Partly because a town a few miles west of us enacted a smoking ban and several restaurants have already moved to other areas.

[maximusaurelius]

In NY, the MTA (in charge of commuter railroads to LI and upstate) is considering ending the sale of beer to commuters. This is largely viewed as a response to death of one idiot kid who got drunk (in a bar, mind you), then fell between the train car and the platform, then ignored instructions to stay put and was smeared by an oncoming train.

[Namyak]

The difference between California Great Central Valley and Scranton is one of weather. The Great Central Valley has no equivalent of the Scranton winter, where temperatures routinely drops into the teens once the sun goes down. Not conducive to standing outside for the length of time it takes to smoke a cigarette, so when faced with this choice, most smokers will patronize establishments outside the Scranton city limits, or just go home. There's 4 months of lean time for the bar of Scranton, and the 4 months which are supposed to be their most successful.

[Namyak]

"go home" should read "stay home", and there is more than one bar in Scranton, at least until the ban goes into effect... gotta slow it down to... fingers aren't moving fast enough to keep up with my brain...

[xowboy]

It might shut them up for some time.

[nothingnew]

We do have a councilman who's trying to revise the ban, giving business owners a bigger say in what goes on int their establishments....

Wow. What a concept. Sounds rather constitutional somehow.

FMCDH(BITS)

[nothingnew]

Some small establishments have found a loophole in that if the owner has no employees, smoking can proceed.

If I ever opened a bar, I wouldn't have employees....just volunteers. Then, every so often, like maybe once a week, through my own generosity, I would GIVE those volunteers some money.

I wonder if there are laws against volunteer work and generosity yet.

FMCDH(BITS)

[xowboy]

In Las Vegas, New Mexico there is a smoking ban proposed; it will ban smoking in all public places restaurants outdoor restaurants. Note: There are NO restaurants or bars in town with outdoor dining! So they are thinking ahead here. Funny, the city has failed since the 50's to secure any viable water source or water storage for the city. They are in endless litigation re that issue (always losing). This is how they are spending their time---Banning the Smokers

[Gabz]

Nice to see they have their priorities straight..........

[xowboy]

Their priorities staight and the most current study. (scare) I have taken a certain medication for the past 25 yrs---every new study that comes out, they demand I go off, seek and alternative etc (to cover their butt). First time I was quite young and fell for this lunacy and ending up with a $30,000 hospital bill getting it all straightened out.

[Gabz]

I think we're getting our convrsations crossed........too many smoking ban stories today!!!!

My proiority comment was in regard to your comment about water sources :)

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[SheLion]

I can tell you right now, this ban will cause the death of at least half the bars in Scranton, especially since no neighboring municipalities are even considering such a move. For a city where a conservative estimate of 30% of the bar-going crowd smokes, this is monumental stupidity.

Without a doubt..........

[SheLion]

Tobacco Prohibition. We'll be able to tell our grandchildren about it.

[SheLion]

Thanks for the ping.

Many states are not going with the smoking ban, but Scanton must be stubborn.........

[SheLion]

Smoke 'em if ya got 'em!

You bet! :)

[SheLion]

Thanks for the ping!!!